Jonathan Eduardo Chauca Luna

Prof. Jonathan Eduardo Chauca Luna

Biotecnología, Universidad Politécnica Salesiana, Quito, Pichincha, Ecuador
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Research Focus & Metrics

Academic Career Length

1Year (2026-Present)

(Calculated once Scilit publication data is synced: current year − year of first publication + 1)

Representative Publications

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18 September 2026 in Separations
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Journal Article
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CLChristian Larenas-Uría
Christian Larenas-Uría
Jonathan Eduardo Chauca LunaJonathan Eduardo Chauca Luna
Jonathan Eduardo Chauca Luna
Edison Antonio Osorio MuñozEdison Antonio Osorio Muñoz
Edison Antonio Osorio Muñoz
MGMarjourie Lizbeth Yánez Galárraga
Marjourie Lizbeth Yánez Galárraga
Paco NoriegaPaco Noriega
Paco Noriega
Ilex guayusa Loes., known as guayusa, is a plant that has been used for generations by the indigenous peoples of the Ecuadorian Amazon for its medicinal properties, notably its stimulating effects. This bioactivity is primarily due to the presence of xanthine alkaloids such as caffeine, theobromine, and theophylline. In this study, the concentration of each alkaloid was determined in thirty populations throughout the Amazon region, with data ranging from 2065.0 mg/100 g to 364.8 mg/100 g for caffeine; 225.8 mg/100 g and 74.6 mg/100 g for theobromine; and 4.9 mg/100 g and 1.5 mg/100 g for theophylline. A statistical analysis was conducted on twenty-four guayusa populations by integrating alkaloid concentrations with altitude, climatic, and soil variables. Caffeine showed high variability among populations and was only weakly associated with elevation, whereas theobromine and theophylline were determined primarily by climatic and soil factors. These results indicate that methylxanthine accumulation in Ilex guayusa is driven by the combined influence of climatic and edaphic conditions rather than by a single environmental factor.